Entries that relate to C.S. Lewis and his work.
I had enjoyed several of N.T. Wright’s other books, and he himself recommends this book at the end of his Simply Christian. The book was originally published in 1999, and the 2015 edition (by InterVarsity Press) has a new, seven-page introduction by Wright. The “backbone of this book,” says the author in the preface (9), … [Read more…]
This short, 134-page book (and that includes references, index, etc.) is part of an Oxford University Press series of “very short introductions” that aim to provide “a stimulating and accessible way into a new subject.” The author’s impressive credentials are laid out on the book jacket: James Como is Professor Emeritus of Rhetoric and Public … [Read more…]
I’ve listed below what I bet are the responses most likely to be given to the question, “Why aren’t you a Christian?,” followed by my brief answers to those responses. “Because the Bible is not reliable.” Actually it is, especially the historicity of the Gospels, which tell us about the life and death and Resurrection … [Read more…]
Introduction Elsewhere on this blogsite, I have a post on “What Does Jesus Want?” that has, as one item on the list, that we are to follow the rules laid out in the Old Testament unless they are superseded by something in the New Testament. And, I then continue, it’s not enough just to follow … [Read more…]
I am a fan of Richard Bauckham — I discuss two of his other books here and here on this blogsite — and so I sought out this book. I’m glad that I did; while it did not dazzle me as much as his other books, that is owing in part to Revelation’s genre being … [Read more…]
Paul’s paean to love in I Corinthians 13 is his most famous extended passage, I’m sure, but I also bet that second place goes to his “Put on the full armor of God” exhortation in Ephesians 6. Here it is: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.11 Put on the full armor … [Read more…]
My NIV study Bible lists, among “The Parables of Jesus,” two “About Prayer”: “The Friend at Midnight” (Luke 11:5-8) and “The Unjust Judge” (Luke 18:1-8). I’ve set them out below, along with immediately subsequent verses for each, since they also seemed relevant to the parables. This is an important area, and we’ll see that Jesus’ … [Read more…]
At our church, last Sunday’s sermon — which was on a few verses in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (4:17-24) — made the point that we should not think ourselves unworthy of salvation because of shame for our past sinful behavior. It was noted in this context that it is unlikely that many of us … [Read more…]
This post will address a fundamental question: How do you persuade someone that Jesus was divine, was the Son of God? This is important, and I think framing this issue properly is a little more complicated than it first appears. Caveats. Consider: You can persuade someone to believe that God exists without persuading him that … [Read more…]
Here are three published letters to the editor relevant to this blogsite. 1. From the July 18, 2011, Los Angeles Times (link here): Re “Imagine no religion,” Opinion, July 18 The fact that we have a hardwired moral sense can just as easily be viewed as evidence that God exists, as C.S. Lewis said. More … [Read more…]